Kensington Dragons Reserves 4 – 1 CB Hounslow Social 3rds – MCFL Junior Cup Round 3
Saturday was a big test of the Reserve squad with no less than 10 players unavailable due to absence, injury and being cup tied. This however gave others a chance to re establish themselves in the squad and also the starting line up.
Against limited opposition they started poorly, even with the strong wind helping the territorial advantage, the young, and older Dragons kept gifting possession away when in dangerous attacking positions. However they did constantly look threatening and as the half wore on Luke Giles, Shegun Beckley and Reiss Corr began to link well. Then in a period of five crazy minutes they managed to miss two open goals with poor cutbacks from Jon Laycock and Corr, and then failed to net with 4 attempts in one move hitting the post and bar in the process. Finally after 25 minutes Giles glided into the box and fed Beckley who was felled when clean through. The former dispatched his fourth penalty in 2 games and the Dragons relaxed. Adam Finch then drifted in a superb corner for Laycock to head home and the striker netted his brace goal with a hooked left foot after reading a long throw from the right. It was 4-0 at half time as Beckley and Giles linked up again with the latter producing the first decent cutback for Corr to neatly tuck into the corner. If there ever was a poor first half that finished 4-0 up this was it!
The second half was a drab affair with the Dragons dropping deeper with the wind and having to reshuffle due to an injury at the back. They still looked dangerous on the break but failed to test the keeper with Corr going close on numerous occasions. Hounslow managed a consolation goal in the last few minutes but the result was never in doubt through the 90 minutes and the Dragons make it through to the quarter finals to face British Airways in February. The Challenge is now to improve league form next week and end the year off the bottom of the league table, that challenge is a tough one with a hard looking game against the stronger Hounslow side, very physical and unbeaten in their last 8 and beating Division One teams in the cups along the way.